To balance tourism growth with sustainability, Kyoto City has announced a major revision of its lodging tax, effective March 2026.
This “Kyoto Accommodation Tax” (宿泊税) applies to anyone staying overnight within the city — whether in a hotel, ryokan, or guesthouse — and is calculated per person, per night.
It’s a tiered tax: the tax amount travellers pay per night depends on how much they’re paying for their accommodation.
Kyoto: Japan’s Timeless Cultural Heart
Few cities in the world balance ancient beauty and modern life quite like Kyoto. Once Japan’s imperial capital for over a thousand years, it’s home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, centuries-old temples, traditional tea houses, bamboo groves, and elegant ryokan inns that embody the soul of Japanese hospitality.
From the vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha to the serene Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and the atmospheric streets of Gion, Kyoto invites visitors into a living museum of art, spirituality, and craftsmanship.
But with its growing global popularity comes a new challenge — how to preserve the city’s charm while managing millions of visitors each year.
The new rates (from March 2026)
Here are the planned rates under the revised system, compared to the current ones.
| Price per night (宿泊料金) | Current tax per person/night | New tax from March 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than ¥6,000 | ¥200 | ¥200 (unchanged) |
| ¥6,000 – ¥19,999 | ¥200 | ¥400 |
| ¥20,000 – ¥49,999 | ¥500 | ¥1,000 |
| ¥50,000 – ¥99,999 | ¥1,000 | ¥4,000 |
| ¥100,000 or more | ¥1,000 | ¥10,000 |
While the increase for budget travellers is minimal, luxury guests will notice a larger jump. For luxury/high-end lodging, the tax is going up to ten times what it used to be. The revenue, however, is intended to make Kyoto a better experience for everyone.
Why is Kyoto raising the Tourism Tax?
Kyoto officials emphasize that this move isn’t just about revenue — it’s about preserving the balance between tourism and daily life for residents.
Several reasons are cited by the city government:
- Overtourism / Tourist Pressure — Kyoto has been seeing very high numbers of tourists, especially after borders reopened post-COVID and with the weaker yen. This leads to crowding, stress on infrastructure, overcrowded public transit, and wear & tear on culturally significant sites.
- Need for infrastructure improvements — The increased revenue is intended to go toward improving public transport, managing crowding, maintaining and conserving Kyoto’s historic buildings/temples/gardens, multilingual tourist services, possibly better transit links from stations to tourist-heavy areas.
- Balancing citizen life and tourism — Officials have spoken of the need to ensure that tourism doesn’t degrade daily life for residents — traffic, noise, congestion, environmental stresses. The tax is part of making tourism sustainable and ensuring visitors share part of the burdens that increased tourism imposes.
- Raising revenue — The tax revenue was about ¥5.2 billion in fiscal 2023 under the old rates. With the revision, it’s expected to reach about ¥12.6 billion annually.
Who is affected?
- All overnight guests in hotels, ryokan (traditional inns), and other lodging in Kyoto. The tax is per person, per night. JapanTravel+1
- The tax amount depends on how expensive the accommodation is. So budget travellers are impacted less; luxury travellers more.
- Some exemptions: school excursion groups (middle & high school students) are exempt. JapanTravel+1
What travellers need to know
- If you book a hotel whose nightly rate falls into one of the higher tiers, your stay will include this extra cost. It may not always appear in the booking price up front — often hotels charge accommodation tax separately at check-in/check-out.
- For luxury stays (¥100,000+), you’ll pay an additional ¥10,000 per person, per night. That’s quite significant.
- For moderate or budget stays, the increase is smaller (e.g. from ¥200 → ¥400, etc.), so less impact.
- Plan ahead: especially if you stay in high-end hotels, you’ll need to budget this extra cost into your travel expenses if travelling after March 2026.
Why Kyoto Remains Japan’s Must-Visit Destination
Even with Japan’s dazzling blend of futuristic cities and natural wonders, Kyoto remains the soul of the nation — a place where the country’s cultural DNA is most vividly alive.
Walking through Kyoto is like stepping through layers of time: one moment you’re surrounded by minimalist architecture and boutique cafés, the next you’re standing beneath ancient cedar beams as temple bells echo in the distance.
Here are just a few reasons why Kyoto continues to captivate travelers from around the world:
1. Living Tradition
From tea ceremonies and kimono artisans to Zen meditation and traditional festivals, Kyoto keeps Japan’s centuries-old traditions vibrantly alive. These experiences aren’t staged — they’re a living part of daily life.
2. World-Class Heritage
With 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Kyoto is home to some of Japan’s most iconic landmarks:
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion): a shimmering symbol of harmony between architecture and nature.
- Fushimi Inari Taisha: its endless tunnels of red torii gates embody perseverance and devotion.
- Kiyomizu-dera: a mountainside temple with sweeping views of the city, especially breathtaking in cherry blossom or autumn leaf season.
3. Nature and Spiritual Calm
Kyoto’s natural beauty is inseparable from its cultural identity. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove whispers with the sound of wind through towering stalks, while the Philosopher’s Path invites quiet reflection alongside blooming cherry trees.
4. Culinary Excellence
Kyoto is Japan’s capital of kaiseki cuisine — an art form of balance, beauty, and seasonality. From elegant multi-course dinners to simple bowls of matcha and wagashi, food here is a meditation on time and taste.
5. Authentic Encounters
Beyond the temples and tourist trails lies the Kyoto that locals know — narrow lanes lined with machiya townhouses, neighborhood shrines, and community markets. This is where Kyoto reveals its heart: quietly, gracefully, and on its own terms.
How YOKOSO Japan Can Help You Experience Kyoto Differently
At YOKOSO Japan, we believe in creating custom itineraries that go beyond the usual tourist trail. Our curated experiences are designed to connect you with local culture and community — from traditional tea ceremonies and calligraphy workshops to private tours of temples, artisan studios, and hidden restaurants only locals know.
Whether you want a romantic Kyoto getaway, a photography-focused temple route, or a deep dive into Zen and mindfulness, our travel specialists can help design a journey that’s personal, memorable, and in harmony with Kyoto’s cultural rhythm.
Kyoto: A Journey Worth Taking
Kyoto isn’t just a place to visit — it’s a place to slow down, connect, and rediscover what makes travel meaningful.
And now, as the city embraces sustainable tourism through its new accommodation tax, your visit becomes part of protecting Kyoto’s heritage for generations to come.
With YOKOSO Japan, you can experience this timeless city with depth, intention, and care — guided by those who know and love it best.
Your map of Kyoto awaits. Let us draw it together — one unforgettable moment at a time.
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